The committee’s report came amid outcry from Labor supporter Stella Crazy, who said she could no longer bear her newborn son while making statements or asking questions in parliament. The group decided that MPs should not bring babies to or near Westminster Hall if they wanted to “observe, start, talk or intervene”. Subscribe to the First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7 p.m. BST But they said there should be a “degree of de-facto discretion” that “should be exercised sparingly”. Creasy said that was not enough and commented on the “outdated” rule that remains in force. The committee, however, supported the extension of the vote by proxy for a “serious long-term illness”. The review of the rules was ordered by House Speaker Lindsay Hoyle in November after Creasy was told it could no longer bring Pip, then three months old, into the room. The mother of two, who represents Walthamstow in London, hoped the review would “mix parenting with politics”. Creasy was shocked when Commons authorities emailed her rules forbidding bringing children into discussions after she took Pip to Westminster Hall. Deputies described the boy as “as good as gold” during the debate. However, the committee’s report said it was a “long-standing practice” supported by previous rulings that “babies should not be present” during discussions and question hours. They noted that there had been “several instances” where MPs had brought babies into discussions “without interruption”, but this “contributed to some confusion and a gap” between practice and rules. Many lawmakers backed Ms Creasy, with Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab saying he had “a lot of sympathy” for her and would not be distracted by a baby. But Tories fan Alicia Cairns said the room was “not a place” for a baby. Creasy said it was “not surprised” by the recommendation because the committee “did not speak to anyone outside Parliament despite the fact that many of us encouraged them to do so”. “They do not recognize who is ousted from parliament by outdated rules and their approach to women who have children and the need to modernize,” she added. “They are not the only ones working like this – in the last year we have not seen any progress in parliament having any form of appropriate maternity or paternity policy, and no progress from IPSA [the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority] to provide adequate maternity or paternity funding. “Change will only come when we start listening to those outside the status quo.”
